Seismic retrofit work on Ballard Bridge tomorrow

Crews will be on the south end of Ballard Bridge on Thursday conducting seismic retrofit work from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the Seattle Department of Transportation. SDOT says all traffic lanes will be open, but that the sidewalk on the northbound (eastern) side of the bridge will closed at times while they do their work. Flaggers will be at both ends of the bridge, redirecting pedestrians and bicyclists as needed. The northbound merge lane at the south end of the bridge will be shortened slightly during the work, according to SDOT.

SDOT says the seismic retrofit project, which was initially expected to require frequent lane and sidewalk closures, has not required either since the project began over a year ago, until today’s periodic sidewalk closures. The contractor, Quigg Brothers, has made extraordinary efforts to minimize any impacts on the users of the bridge, or of the Ship Canal Trail which passes below on the south side, according to SDOT. The retrofit project is expected to be completed by next spring.